CAN'T SING? CAN'T DANCE? GOD GIVES US NEW SONGS AND STEPS.

September 7, 2017

CAN'T SING? CAN'T DANCE? GOD GIVES US NEW SONGS AND STEPS.

Psalm 150

Bobby Gilpin

Central Truth

God desires our relationship and praise. He sees our hearts and knows us. We please Him by demonstrating that we trust and obey Him consistently. Our actions divulge who we are. His Spirit guides us as we praise Him with actions that please Him.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 150:6)

Let Everything Praise the LORD

1 Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!^{1

150:1
Hebrew expanse (compare Genesis 1:68)}
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

Footnotes

[1] 150:1 Hebrew expanse (compare Genesis 1:6–8)

A septuagenarian and still breathing! And I can still change, going forward. Some of my years are not glowing examples of walking with God. Even though I was aware of Him and His love, I was self-centered, motivated by material things and worldly values. I was lazily praising the God who created, loved, and protected me. Today’s passage caused me to reflect on goals I lived by during my 42-year career and 50+-year marriage. Praising God with a pleasing attitude was not a priority.

Scripture teaches that praise is important to God. In the six short verses of Psalm 150 alone, we are told 13 times to praise God in His place for His deeds and for His character. Praising God is not a passive activity. It requires a complete and joyful focus on Him. We are told to make music (loudly at times) and dance as we praise Him. Now, while I breathe, I recognize that God is seeking my joyful praise here in this world as long as I have breath. In 2006, a stroke left me unable to sing, dance, or make music. I miss those activities, but their loss does not prohibit my praise. I am more aware of praising Him than ever before, submitting to Him and introducing others to Jesus.

My goal is to reflect Paul’s application for Psalm 150, "[B]e filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:18b-21) Praising God is a response that applies to everything that has breath. We praise Him from our hearts in response to His love for us and with joy as we trust and obey Him. We praise Him in times of doubt, thanking Him for His blessings and living the life He has given us for His glory.

To God be the glory!

Hallelujah! Amen!

1. Describe how you lovingly praised God yesterday. Prayerfully find ways to demonstrate how important God is to you. We choose how we act. Do we worship ourselves through worldly pursuits? Or do we give praise to the one true God who loves us beyond our understanding?

2. What specific actions will you take to improve the level of your love and praise for God? Consider the summary message of Psalm 150:6. Expand the opportunities you have to praise Him. Setting goals with accountability can assure change.

3. What new verse(s) from God’s Word have you hidden in your mind/heart this week to help share Him more effectively?

By knowing the Word, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then we can share God’s truth as our lives bear witness to Him. In doing so, His grace is expanded to more people who will praise Him: "[A]s grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 4:15)

Praise God joyfully: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

4. How do others see more about God because of you? How does His light shine through you, revealing what He has done in your life?

"[B]ut in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)

5. Respond to this idea: Even as sinners, we have many ways to praise God in this life. Yet in His presence, there will be an infinite number of ways to praise Him. See John 17:3-26.